NO2ID Newsletters

Newsletter No. 143

++ NO2ID Supporters’ Newsletter No. 143 – 25th February 2010 ++

+ DANGERS OF DATA RETENTION +

Anti-filesharing measures in the Digital Economy Bill currently before
Parliament open a back door into your and your family’s personal lives
that *will* be exploited by the database state.

Last year’s public outcry against a Communications Data Database -
intended to store details of your phone calls, e-mails and internet
browsing – forced the last Home Secretary to disavow plans for a giant
surveillance database and to drop the proposed legislation. But things
didn’t end there.

The Data Retention (EC Directive) Regulations 2009 were still passed,
requiring internet service providers (ISPs) and telecoms providers to
retain communications data on all fixed and mobile phone, e-mail and
internet usage for 12 months. Because this is linked to the details of
the person subscribed to the service, the retained data, wherever it is
held, forms a digital dossier on YOU… and your family.

Even national security is no excuse for blanket surveillance of
everyone’s communications, but the Digital Economy Bill would now make
allegations of copyright infringement sufficient grounds for ‘fishing
expeditions’ (speculative searches) in the data retained by ISPs -
thereby ensuring the technology must be in place to enable mass
surveillance by other agencies and organisations.

With a new unit set up at the Home Office just last month to push
forward the £2 billion ‘Interception Modernisation Programme’ (IMP), it
isn’t hard to imagine who else’ll be snooping too.

Open Rights Group (http://www.openrightsgroup.org) and others continue
to campaign against measures in the Digital Economy Bill. They have
various objections – but as NO2ID we have to be concerned about any
pretext for mass surveillance without any form of warrant or oversight.

Interception of communications was historically so sensitive that it was
made into a power exercised only on the approval of the Home Secretary
that cannot be even mentioned in court. We fail to see why recording all
your communications (and providing technical means for them to be
arbitrarily investigated) is any different to opening your letters or
secretly breaking into your home.

Please do write to your MP (http://www.writetothem.com/) in your own
words, expressing your concerns.
————————————————————————

What just happened?

+ ID commissioner releases his first report +

The Identity Commissioner, Sir Joseph Pilling today published his first
annual report to the Home Secretary into the ID scheme. In the report
Pilling attempts to reach out to NO2ID, saying: “I would have welcomed a
chance to meet and listen to NO2ID and have written to them twice to ask
them to meet me. They replied to my first letter by saying that they
would be willing to speak with me if there were any prospect that our
meeting could lead to a restriction or abandonment of the identity card
scheme. I await a response to my second letter.” Pilling later goes on
to point out that: “My remit on complaints does not extend to whether or
not there should be a national identity card and where correspondents
have lobbied on this I have directed them to IPS [Identity and Passport
Service].” So that’ll be a “no” to his being able to assist in the
abandonment of the identity card scheme then.
The report can be downloaded at
http://www.identitycommissioner.org/cps/rde/xchg/idc_live/hs.xsl/index.htm

+ Stop ID cards/database state makes it into POWER2010 pledge +

The POWER2010’s campaign has produced its final list of the most popular
proposals that will make up their ‘Power Plegde’ and “Scrap ID cards and
roll back the database state” made it into the pledge at number two with
just over 10,000 votes. The other proposals are to introduce: a
proportional voting system, an elected House of Lords, English votes on
English laws, and a commitment to drawing up a written constitution. The
next aim for Power2010 is to get as many people as possible to sign the
Pledge and then take it to the candidates in their constituency, by
writing to them, calling them, and attending local hustings, public
meetings and MPs’ surgeries. The idea is to ask every candidate standing
at the next election to make a public commitment – a pledge – “to clean
up and reform our politics”.
For more info or to take the pledge visit http://www.power2010.org.uk

+ UK climbs the UN’s e-government hit parade +

The UK has the dubious accolade of jumping several places in the United
Nations’ 2010 e-Government Development Index, from tenth place in 2008
to fourth place in 2010. This puts the UK “ahead” of all other European
countries, and behind South Korea, the United States, and Canada. Much
of the e-government agenda is about smoothing the way for wholesale data
sharing. A UN overview of the report states that: “The public trust that
is gained through transparency can be further enhanced through the free
sharing of government data based on open standards.” Not a view that
many privacy conscious UK citizens share.
The UK data page is at
http://www2.unpan.org/egovkb/ProfileCountry.aspx?ID=182
The full report will be online soon at
http://www2.unpan.org/egovkb/global_reports/10report.htm

+ Changes to ICO Data Sharing code of practice +

The Department of Justice has released a circular that outlines key
provisions of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 that came into force on
1st February. One such provision is an amendment to the Data Protection
Act which places a duty on the Information Commissioner “to produce,
issue and keep under review a code of practice containing practical
guidance about the sharing of personal data”. Any failure to act in
accordance with the terms of the new code … “will not render anyone
liable to proceedings in a court or tribunal”!
See
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/circular-02-2010-coroners-justice-act.pdf

+ Home Office release details of airisde workers ID evaluation +

The Home Office Research, Development and Statistics department has
released ‘Home Office Research Report 31′ which details the ‘Baseline
for the evaluation of airside workers’ identity cards’. The document
explains how the success or failure of the 18-month review period of ID
cards for airside workers will be measured. The report states that:
“Currently, only foreign airside workers who possess a UKBA [UK Borders
Agency] issued Foreign National Identity Card have biometric identity
assurance and these are estimated to represent less than three per cent
of employees with immediate airside access”.
The report can be downloaded at
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/horr31c.pdf
————————————————————————

What’s next?

*+WANTED – leaflet distribution in London +
*We have in the Vauxhall office 150,000 ‘Don’t be a Guinea Pig’ leaflets
hot off the presses and we need to distribute them to places where they
will get into the hands of London’s young adult population, who are
being targeted by the Home Office as potential ID-card applicants. This
is *not* a matter of door to door distribution. And it is specifically
for London. We need volunteers able to make contact with universities,
colleges, and entertainment venues, who will take responsibility for
locating and regularly replenishing a handful of identified distribution
points. Perhaps you work in academia or entertainment and already know
some appropriate sites. Or perhaps you live close to a college and know
the cafes and bars frequented by students. Contact the office:
office at no2id.net with the subject line: “leaflets” if you would like to
help.

*+ Volunteers Needed +*
In the run up to the general election we will have an increased amount
of post to send out and will need the help of volunteers to stuff
envelopes. If you can spare a few hours occasionally and are able to
come to the NO2ID office in Vauxhall please contact Stephanie at
administrator at no2id.net or 07005 800 651.

***+ Call for North West Volunteers +*
If you fancy doing something practical then we have a large supply of
our new “Don’t be a Guinea Pig” leaflets, that warn of the dangers of
being foolish enough to volunteer for the scheme. Ensuring as many
people as possible are aware of what they are really signing up for
helps us ensure people are not conned by the marketing. If you fancy
helping out then email north at no2id.net with the number you would be
happy to distribute and we will send them to you. Even better, come
along to the next meeting of your local group to pick some up and meet
some like-minded people. Check out http://www.no2id.net/localgroups/ for
a list of groups in your area.

*+ Have your say – National Identity Service Public Panels +*
The UK Identity and Passport Service (UKIPS) is setting up public panels
around the country to get the views of members of the public as they
build the “National Identity Service”. Public panels will be made up of
11 members, and will meet for half a day up to three times a year. The
aim is to “produce an Identity Rights Charter. This will set out the
rights and responsibilities people, businesses and the Government have
under the NIS”. To join a panel you can fill in the online form at
www.ips.gov.uk/publicpanel or call 020 3356 8174.
More details at http://www.ips.gov.uk/cps/rde/xchg/ips_live/hs.xsl/1189.htm

————————————————————————

“ID” in the news

*+ ID card tsar understands public reaction – Manchester Evening News
25/2/10 +*
ID card tsar Sir Joseph Pilling has admitted he can see why people don’t
understand why the scheme is needed. The Rochdale-born, former top civil
servant is the government’s independent identity commissioner, whose
role it is to ensure the controversial ID scheme is run properly.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1193767_id_card_tsar_understands_public_reaction_

*+ Impossible to know how many fake ID cards issued, says watchdog -
Computing 25/2/10 +*
It is impossible to tell whether identity cards have been obtained
fraudulently, according to the first report of the identity
commissioner. The independent commissioner Sir Joseph Pilling was put in
place to oversee the government’s £5.4bn National Identity Scheme and
issued his first update today.
http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2258543/impossible-know-fake-id-cards

*+ ID card scheme ditches DWP database – Computer Weekly 24/2/10 +*
The Identity and Passport Service is rethinking its ID card scheme after
ditching a major design component. The IPS dropped its plan to use
another government database to keep biographical details of identity
card holders, one of three core architectural principles established for
the scheme in 2006.
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2010/02/24/240403/ID-card-scheme-ditches-DWP-database.htm

*+ Is our fear of identity cards harming us? – Law Gazette 22/2/10 +*
Here is a topic to raise the blood pressure of every patriotic UK
citizen. Whereas on the continent, benign democratic societies flourish
with a population which carries ID cards, somehow it is thought that
darkness will descend on the UK if ID cards are ever introduced.
http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/blogs/euro-blog/is-our-fear-identity-cards-harming-us

*+ Second thoughts about Britain’s ID cards and privacy – CSMonitor
22/2/10 +*
A new survey suggests public support for the cards has fallen and
worries about government intrusions into privacy are on the rise.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Money/The-Adam-Smith-Institute-Blog/2010/0222/Second-thoughts-about-Britain-s-ID-cards-and-privacy

*+ Cop Jailed – Wilesdesn and Brent Times 18/2/10 +*
A corrupt police officer who tipped off crooks by leaking information
from police databases was jailed for seven months.
http://www.wbtimes.co.uk/content/brent/willesdenchronicle/news/story.aspx?brand=WBCOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newswbc&itemid=WeED18%20Feb%202010%2017%3A41%3A43%3A850

*+ ID cards: there’s more than money to lose – Spiked 15/2/10 +*
With the UK government’s accounts seriously in the red, opposition
politicians have been queuing up to cite the unpopular and costly
National Identity Card scheme as top of their list of New Labour
initiatives to be culled. However, unless the argument against this
intrusive scheme is won on the grounds of defending privacy, rather than
shoring up the state’s balance sheet, the demise of ID cards could be a
hollow and temporary victory for freedom campaigners.
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/8091/

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter -
Editor(newsletter at no2id.net) )
————————————————————————
*+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS + *

To see if there’s a group in your area check our list at
http://www.no2id.net/localgroups/
Or, if you’re interested in starting a group yourself, please contact
Matty on local.groups at no2id.net to discuss what’s involved and what we
have in place to support coordinators and their groups.

_*+ Blackburn +*_

*+ 15th March – Blackburn NO2ID Official Launch Meeting +*
Monday 15th March, 7:30pm at meeting room 1 in Blackburn Central
Library, Town Hall St, Blackburn, Lancashire BB2 1AH. We are pleased to
announce Blackburn NO2ID’s official launch meeting! The meeting is free
to attend and after a short talk by our North of England coordinator,
Frankie the new Blackburn coordinator will be leading a group discussion
on getting the campaign going within Blackburn. If you would like to
attend this meeting please email Blackburn at no2id.net

If you are interested in the work of this group, please join the
Blackburn mailing group at
http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.blackburn

_*+ Cambridge +*_

*+ 27th February – Cambridge NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 27th February in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall
(http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/T5LZATLS) from 1pm (note earlier time).
Please contact Andrew on 07710 469624 if you’d like to help.

*+ 3rd March – Cambridge NO2ID Pub Meeting +
*Wednesday 3rd February, 7:30pm at the Salisbury Arms, 76 Tenison Rd,
Cambridge CB1 2DW (http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/CYXNES29) for
Cambridge NO2ID’s usual monthly pub meeting.

For more details email andrew.watson at no2id.net or call 07710 469624.

_**__*+ Canterbury +*_

To stay up to date join the Canterbury NO2ID mailing list on:
http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.canterbury

_*+ Dorking +*_

*+ 2nd March – Dorking NO2ID Monthly Meeting (first Tuesday of month) +*
Tuesday 2nd March, at 7.30pm – our monthly get-together at South Street
Wine Bar, 43 South Street, Dorking.

*+ 6th, 13th & 20th March – Dorking NO2ID Street Stalls, Crawley +*
Saturday 6th/13th/20th March in Crawley, contact south.east at no2id.net
for more info.

*+ 25th March – Election Question Time on Civil Liberties +*
Thursday 25th March, 7.30pm at the Civic Hall, Crawley. We’ll be holding
3 street stalls in Crawley and much else to promote this event.

If you would like to help or get involved, email Geoff Cox at
dorking at no2id.net or come along to our monthly get-togethers.

_*+ Dover +*_*

*To stay up to date with Dover NO2ID join our mailing list on:
http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.dover

_**__*+ Edinburgh +
*_*****
****Pre Election Hustings Planned*
The main topic at our last Edinburgh group meeting (23rd February) was
planning for the run up to the general election. It was decided to
organise hustings in collaboration with other party-independent
voluntary groups and to target a single local constituency, either
Edinburgh East or North. Planning continues: anyone with relevant
expertise or experience is most welcome to join in.
*
+ Saturdays 1pm – 3pm – NO2ID Edinburgh Street Stall +*
Every week, weather permitting, you will find our campaigning stall at
the east end of Princes Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel. Do drop by
for a chat. New volunteers – please contact John (edinburgh at no2id.net),
and for more group information see http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/
_**_
_*+ Exeter +*_

If you would like to join the Exeter group, please email
exeter at no2id.net and say hello! Do also join the Exeter group mailing
list at http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.exeter
**
_*+ Hull & East Riding +*_

*+ 27th February – Hull & East Riding NO2ID meeting +*
Saturday 27 February 2010, 12 noon at The Mission pub, followed by
street stall from 1.00pm, Hull City Centre. Meeting to discuss street
stalls for the year and events/activity in the run up to local and
national elections. All welcome! No need to commit to anything – all
welcome to learn more about the work of the local group and contribute
ideas. Contact hull at no2id.net for more info or call 07931 115738

*+ 1st March – Official Hull & East Riding NO2ID Launch event and
photocall +*
Monday 1 March 2010, 11am at Queen Victoria Square. Just a quick heads
up that Cllr Carl Minns (Leader of Hull City Council) has agreed to
attend our formal launch / photocall as discussed at the meeting. All
welcome to help launch the local campaign! Contact hull at no2id.net for
more info or call 07931 115738

If you are interested in the work of this group, or planning on
attending the meeting, please join the Hull mailing group here:
http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.hull

_**__*+ Ipswich +*_*
*
If you are interested in the work of the Ipswich group, please join
their mailing list on: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.ipswich

_*+ Lancaster +*_

*+ 20th March – Lancaster NO2ID Meeting and Street Stall +*
Saturday 20th March, 12pm in The Robert Gillow (Market Street,
Lancaster). Following the success of the first Lancaster NO2ID street
stall, we are planning another meeting to be followed directly by our
second stall (which we hope we have slightly warmer weather !) . We will
be having a relaxed and informal meeting at 12pm to discuss news and
plan future events , then if you feel like it you are welcome to come on
and join us to help distribute ‘Don’t Be a Guinea Pig Leaflets’ and
collect signatures on our petition on a street stall. If you plan to
attend or have any questions please email the local coordinator at
Lancaster at no2id.net

If you are interested in the work of this group, or planning on
attending the meeting, please join the Lancaster mailing group at
http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.lancaster

_*+ Liverpool +*_

*Co-ordinator Wanted for Liverpool NO2ID*
‘Don’t be a Guinea Pig’ leaflets are now being distributed across the
city by people who have come forward to help with the campaign. A
special thanks goes to Cllrs Radford and Keaveney for their efforts in
this regard. Yet the City still lacks a group that meets regular and
needs someone to take on the coordinator role. If you are interested in
this position please email James Elsdon-Baker our North of England
coordinator on north at no2id.net

The city also has a local NO2ID mailing list you can join, which then
enables you to contact other supporters in the area to start planning
activities together, join the Liverpool mailing group here:
http://no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.liverpool

_*+ Manchester +*_
_*
*_*+ 10th March – Manchester NO2ID Monthly Meeting +*
Wednesday 10th March, 7pm in the Salmon Rooms at the Lass O’Gowrie pub,
Manchester. Unfortunately this room is on the first floor; we will
attempt to secure stair-free access for future meetings. We’re also
getting the room at a discount, so please show your gratitude at the bar
with the excellent selection of real ales and tasty pies. At our monthly
meetings we discuss the state of the NO2ID campaign, what we’ve been up
to recently and where we’re going in future. Everyone is welcome,
newcomer or not, curious or committed. See minutes of our previous
meetings on our site.

*+ 13th March – Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 13th March, from 2 til 4pm in St Ann’s Square, Manchester (down
near the big Marks and Spencer). The Home Office is trying to trick
people into being Guinea Pigs for the ID Card Con. Many people have
fallen for spin that the National Identity Scheme has been cancelled,
that it isn’t a threat or is voluntary. It’s more important than ever to
get the word out about the Database State. We’ll be running a public
information stall to raise awareness among the public and engage people
in discussion about the National Identity Register. We’ll be collecting
signatures for the NO2ID petition to keep people in touch with the
campaign. We’ll meet in the square itself at 2pm to set up shop; feel
free to join us to lend a hand or just chat. You don’t need any
experience or equipment, just a bit of time to spare and a friendly smile!

**_*+ Norwich +*_
*
**+ 13th March – Norwich NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 13th March, 1-3pm at The Haymarket, Gentleman’s Walk. Come
along to tell the public why ID cards are an intrusive waste of money.

*+ 16th March – Norwich NO2ID Meeting +*
Tuesday 16th March, 7:30-9pm, Norwich NO2ID will be meeting at The
Workshop Cafe (opposite The Black Horse), 53 Earlham Road, NR2 3AD. Join
us to discuss general election tactics and other interesting things like
that.
*
*If you are interested in the work of the Norwich group, please join
their mailing list on: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.norwich

_*+ Oxford +*_

*+ 27th February – NO2ID Oxford Street Stall +*
Saturday 27th February, as usual, we’ll meet up by St Michael’s Tower on
Cornmarket St at 11am and be there for a couple of hours talking to
people and gathering signatures.

*+ 4th March – NO2ID Oxford Meeting +*
Thursday 4th March, from 8pm at the Mitre pub on the High Street.

See the website for more info on Oxford NO2ID: http://no2id-oxford.org.uk/

_*+ Portsmouth +*_

Join the Portsmouth mailing list at
http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.portsmouth/

_*+ Reading +*_*
*
Contact Reading NO2ID on reading at no2id.net or join our web group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Reading-No2ID/

_*+ Sheffield +*_

*+ 24th March – Sheffield NO2ID Meeting +*
Wednesday 24th March, 7:30pm at the Harlequin pub, 108 Nursery St,
Sheffield, S3 8GG (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=s3+8gg). This is our
regular monthly meeting where we’ll be discussing how the campaign is
progressing and organising local activities. Everybody is welcome. If
you would like to get involved in the campaign or want to find out more
about the issues then please come along.

The meeting room is upstairs. We usually congregate in the bar shortly
before the meeting. Please ask the bar staff if you can’t find us.

If you are interested in the work of this group, please join the
Sheffield mailing group here:
http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.sheffield

_*+ Watford +*_*
*
Please contact Colin Simmons on watford at no2id.net if you are interested
in giving a couple of hours a month to join us.

_*+ York +*_
*
+ 27th February – York NO2ID Weekly Street Stall, and every Saturday
until election +*
Saturday 27th February, and every Saturday until the election, from
10.30-12.30. The stalls will be taking place on Parliament Street.
Please email York at no2id.net or call 07870 529 299 if you would like to
get involved.

If you are interested in the work of this group please join the York
mailing group here: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.york

Uncategorized | adam | 2010-02-25 | Comments (0)

2010, 2010-02, Feb

Newsletter No. 142

++ NO2ID Supporters’ Newsletter No. 142 – 11th February 2010 ++

+ REPORT FROM LONDON LAUNCH OF ID CARDS FOR 16-24s +

This Monday (8th Feb) the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) began the
next phase of the ID Card Con – targeting 16-24 year olds living in London.

Minister for Identity, Meg Hillier invited the media to come and see the
first ‘volunteer’ be fingerprinted at 8:30am. A dozen or more hardy
NO2ID supporters mounted a chilly white protest in biting winds and the
odd flurry of snow outside Victoria passport office. IPS security
decided to stay in the warm, and keep an eye on us through the window.

Getting there half an hour before the minister meant we caught the media
going in – and also coming out. Phil Booth gave interviews to ITV news
and the Press Association cameras, and reporters from several London
university newspapers. Guy Herbert spoke to news radio.

Inside the passport office, according to one person watching, the
volunteer actually referred to himself as a guinea-pig. Shame he didn’t
get the full message on the flyers we were handing out, which is *don’t*
be a guinea-pig.

Bizarrely, one young man walking past our protest waved what looked like
an ID card at us. He was turned away from the front door, but headed in
by the side entrance. Members of the media said later he was a member of
an IPS Public Panel – “independent scrutiny” groups, hand-picked by IPS
- which may explain how he came to be issued with a card before the
‘first’ volunteer…

Glimpsing Ms Hillier through the glass around 9:30am, we rapidly
relocated our protest round the corner. But to no avail. The Minister
snuck out another way, leaving another decidedly low-key media event
without directly engaging her critics.

For more information, flyers to download and print off, and notice of
upcoming ‘Stop the ID Card Con’ events in London and across the North
West, please visit: http://www.no2id.net/idcardcon/

+ NO2ID in Europe +

Project STORK is a European Union programme to set up standards for the
interoperability of electronic ID systems across Europe. It has hitherto
been a somewhat obscure process in which organisations such as the IPS
and its equivalents have been discussing the matter with industry. That
is not calculated to produce good results for privacy. After careful
negotiation over several months, NO2ID has been formally admitted as a
member of the Project STORK industry group as a representative of civil
society interests. As far as we know, we are the first non-governmental
and non-corporate organisation to be given such a level of access. A
grant from Microsoft’s corporate social responsibility fund will cover
the expenses of NO2ID representatives attending group meetings. As
things stand the Home Office’s scheme is by far the most pernicious ID
scheme in the continent, if not the world. But if developing European
standards starts to present a threat to privacy and civil liberties,
then we are now in a much better position to know about it and lobby
against it.
————————————————————————

What just happened?

*+ THANKS for Summary Care Records info +

*Many thanks to everyone who sent in details about Summary Care Records
(SCR) mailings in response to our lead item in the last newsletter
(’PROTECT MEDICAL CONFIDENTIALITY NOW’). The information we have
received looks like forming a good basis for a complaint to the
Information Commissioner. If you receive a letter about the SCR then
please continue to let us know at (office at no2id.net).

+ The People’s Manifesto +

We would like to thank all the local groups across the country who have
been helping out with Mark Thomas’ latest tour ‘It’s the Economy
Stupid’. Mark has been collecting manifesto ideas from his audiences up
and down the length and breadth of Britain. The brightest and the best
(and not just most humorous) have been collected in his recently
published new book the People’s Manifesto
(http://www.markthomasinfo.com/section_store/). We would recommend
taking a look to see if any of your NO2ID ideas got a mention!

+ Compulsion – the dreaded C word +

We have repeatedly pointed out the semantic gymnastics performed by the
government in calling the ID scheme “voluntary” (e.g see Newsletter 126)
and this week the Identity Minsiter Meg Hillier appeared on the BBC’s
‘The Politics Show’ to demonstrate just how bad at gymnastics (and
databases) she is. When confonted with the dreaded question of
compulsion with regards to entry onto the ID database the following
exchange ensued between Hillier and host Tim Donovan:
Hillier: “There are no plans to make the database complusory, no.”
Donovan: “They haven’t got plans to make the database compulsory?”
Hillier: “No, there are no plans to make the database compulsory.”
Donovan: “Because you only go on that database if you take this card-”
Hillier: “Yes … and a passport in time-”
Donovan: “And a passport, so eventually everyone will go on this
database, because you’ll have to renew your passport?”
Hillier: “Well eight out of ten people currently have a passport that’s
true, yes -”
Donovan: “So they will …”
Hillier: “Well that doesn’t make it .. it’s not ..”
Donovan: “It’s compulsory-”
Hillier: “Well I think that’s a bit of a jump to make it .. it’s not a
compulsory .. it’s not compulsory to have a card or to go on the
database but if you do have a card or a passport yes you’ll be on the
database just as you are now on the passport database, just as in 1916
you had paper records”.
The programme is online until 14th Feb at:
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/the_politics_show_london) – item starts 33
minutes in.

+ ID cards – the cheapest form of losing it and then rebuying it +

The first young Londoner to get an ID card, 21 year old Peter Fawcett,
was also featured on ‘The Politics Show’ this week, where he coined a
new catchphrase to promote ID cards as a proof of age card, Fawcett told
the BBC: “I’ve looked at other ways of getting an Identity card, er you
know, getting a provisional license – and that’s more expensive, and
really this is the cheapest option for me, so I can put this er identity
card in my wallet which is really good, er and plus also a passport, you
know, if you lose it its so much more expensive to replace it, so err,
yeah – its like its the cheapest form of losing it again and then
rebuying it”. The only problem with this argument of course is that
young people can buy a £10 proof-of-age card from an independent charity
with no fingerprinting requirement, no government database and no fines
regime.

+ More Creeping demands for ID +

More evidence of the shift towards an ID culture in the UK has been
supplied by a NO2ID supporter who runs a Bed and Breakfast in Cornwall.
They told us about a strange ID check requested by a guest: “She was a
librarian working for Liverpool Council. In response to my invoice, I
was informed that my National Insurance number was required before any
payment could be approved. I refused. On speaking to the lady who
stayed, she said she thought she could circumnavigate the problem.”
Eventually the payment was made without the National Insurance number
being supplied.

+ Don’t Visit Britain — You Have Been Warned +

Inflight magazines are always a good place to boost your country as a
travel destination. The February issue of ‘b.there!’ is no exception.
The Brussels Airlines magazine promises a ‘Fiesta of Flavours’ in
Andalucia, catwalk chic in Milan and moonlit ski slopes in France. All
lavishly illustrated. As there is also a write-up of the airline’s new
improved services to the UK, the time was ripe for the sceptred isle to
blow its own trumpet. Sure enough, the British taxpayer has taken out a
half-page ad. What does it show? A nice red phone box? No. Smiling
bobbies bursting to tell you what time it is? Nope. A pink-washed B&B
with roses round the door? Wrong again. Perhaps the most striking images
are taken from body scanners. One is skin-deep. The other will appeal
more to those who like bones and internal organs. Skull bowed, the
apparition seems to be walking on crutches. We are also treated to a
swarthy digit being squashed onto a fingerprinting pad by plastic-gloved
officialdom, a man staring at something through a magnifying glass and a
still life of what looks like a ticket machine but turns out to be a
passport gate. Proudly, the ad explains all: “The UK Border Agency uses
new technologies to support our staff, combat fraud and secure the UK
border.” Welcome to the UK.
————————————————————————

What’s next?

*+ POWER2010 public vote +*
NO2ID supporters will be glad to hear that ‘Scrap ID cards and roll back
the database state’ was one of the reforms shortlisted for the POWER2010
public vote, which now runs until 22nd February 2010. The top 5 ideas at
the end of the voting process will then become the POWER2010 Pledge -
the backbone of a nationwide campaign for change at the next election.
You can cast your vote online at http://www.power2010.org.uk/no2id (you
will need to provide an e-mail address). You can of course vote for as
many reforms as you like, but just once for each reform.

————————————————————————

“ID” in the news

*+ ID commissioner sees risks in IPS’s two-stage IT – ZDNet 9/2/10 +*
Identity commissioner Sir Joseph Pilling has expressed concerns about
the Identity and Passport Service’s two-stage approach to its core
technology. One system has been put in place for the small-scale launch
of the scheme, but another will be introduced when it is expanded by
forcing passport applicants to enrol.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,40031992,00.htm

*+ Government petitioned to abandon centralised IT projects – Computing
9/2/10 +*
An e-petition on the 10 Downing Street web site calling on the
government to abandon centralised IT projects has received 199
signatures. The petition, which has been in place for a week, says the
failure of such projects is mainly the result of the nature in which
they are procured and delivered, with commitments to all the
requirements of a project made in advance of the work.
http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2257595/government-petitioned-abandon

*+ London SCR roll out complete in a year – e-Health Insider 9/2/10 +*
NHS London is aiming to create Summary Care Records for 100% of the
people living in the capital that want one by March 2011. The five PCTs
which have sent out letters to patients this week are NHS Bexley,
Bromley, Greenwich, Southwark and Waltham Forest.
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/5624/london_scr_roll_out_complete_in_a_year

*+ Gov tempts young London onto ID database with booze, ‘games’ – The
Register 8/2/10 +*
Youngsters between the ages of 16 and 24 are being tempted into the
scheme – and therefore onto the National Identity Register – with the
prospect of being able to buy “alcohol, computer games and DVDs, going
to the cinema or to a club.”
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/08/london_id_cards/

*+ 500,000 EU computers can access private British data – The Guardian
7/2/10 +*
Privacy campaigners expressed shock last night after it emerged that
large amounts of confidential personal information held about British
citizens on a giant computer network spanning the European Union could
be accessed by more than 500,000 terminals
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/feb/07/eu-computers-access-private-data

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter -
Editor(newsletter at no2id.net) )
————————————————————————
*+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS + *

_*+ Birmingham +*_

*+ 24th February – Birmingham NO2ID Meeting +*
Wednesday 24th February, 7:30pm at Bennetts Bar, Bennetts Hill. Call
07943 951 816 or email birmingham at no2id.net for more details.

_*+ Cambridge +*_

For more details email andrew.watson at no2id.net or call 07710 469624.

_**__*+ Canterbury +*_

To stay up to date join the Canterbury NO2ID mailing list on:
http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.canterbury

*_+ Coventry +_*

*+ 18th February – Coventry NO2ID Meeting +
*Thursday 18th February, 18:30-19:30 at the Squirrel Pub [New Union
Street, city centre]. We’ll be discussing arrangements for the Saturday
stall and other ways we can get involved in the fight against the
database state. Everyone welcome; bring a friend.

*+ 20th February – Coventry NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 20th February, 9:30am onwards. The street stall is back. We’ll
be setting up by the Bull-Yard, near the Glasshouse Bar in the city
centre. If you’re free to lend a hand, even for an hour, please get in
touch with Claire [coventry at no2id.net] or come to the meeting on
Thursday 18th to find out more.

_*+ Dorking +*_

*+ 2nd March – Dorking NO2ID Monthly Meeting (first Tuesday of month) +*
Tuesday 2nd March, at 7.30pm – our monthly get-together at South Street
Wine Bar, 43 South Street, Dorking.

*+ 13th March – Dorking NO2ID Street Stall in Guildford +*
Saturday 13th March – any help appreciated.

If you would like to help or get involved, email Geoff Cox at
dorking at no2id.net or come along to our monthly get-togethers.

_*+ Dover +*_*

*To stay up to date with Dover NO2ID join our mailing list on:
http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.dover

_**__*+ Edinburgh +
*_*****
****+ Saturdays 1pm – 3pm – NO2ID Edinburgh Street Stall +*
Every week, weather permitting, you will find our campaigning stall at
the east end of Princes Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel. Do drop by
for a chat. New volunteers – please contact John (edinburgh at no2id.net),
and for more group information see http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/
_**_
*+ 23rd February – NO2ID Edinburgh Meeting +*
Tuesday 23rd February, 7.00pm at the Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria
Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JL. We shall be drawing up our campaign plans
for the run up to the general election. Also reviewing progress with the
IPS Public Panel for Scotland, where some members have been invited for
interview. More details at (http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/).
All welcome.

_*+ Exeter +*_

If you are interested in the work of this group, or planning on
attending the meeting, please join the Hull mailing group here:
http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.hull

_**__*+ Ipswich +*_*
*
If you are interested in the work of the Ipswich group, please join
their mailing list on: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.ipswich

_*+ Lancaster +*_

*+ 13th February – Lancaster NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 13th February, 1pm in The Robert Gillow (Market Street,
Lancaster). The Lancaster NO2ID branch is holding a street stall to
raise awareness of the ID card roll out in the North West, and try to
raise support for the group locally. We’ll be meeting at 1pm for a swift
discussion of the main points we’ll be raising while talking to people
on the street. It should be a comparatively short afternoon of
campaignign, aiming to pack up and go home no later than 5pm – but feel
free to attend for any time you have available. This is an excellent
opportunity to really help get the Lancaster branch moving, so it’d be
great to see as many people there as possible. If you plan to attend or
have any questions please email the local coordinator at
owenpearman at yahoo.com

If you are interested in the work of this group please join the
Lancaster mailing group at
http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.lancaster

_*+ Liverpool +*_

If you are interested in the work of this group, or planning on
attending the meeting, please join the Liverpool mailing group at
http://no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.liverpool

**_*+ Norwich +*_
*
**+ 13th February – Norwich NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 13th February, 1-3pm at The Haymarket, Gentleman’s Walk. Tell
the government where they can stick their precious ID cards.

*+ 16th February – Norwich NO2ID Meeting +*
Tuesday 16th February, 7:30-9pm, Norwich NO2ID will be meeting at The
Workshop Cafe (opposite The Black Horse), 53 Earlham Road, NR2 3AD.
Discuss the current developments with ID cards and the connected
databases, and ways of rolling back The Database State.
*
+ 19th February — Norwich NO2ID & Power2010 Event +*
Friday 19th February, The Cube Room at The Forum – please check the
Norwich NO2ID blog for further details of this event:
http://norwichno2id.wordpress.com/

If you are interested in the work of the Norwich group, please join
their mailing list on: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.norwich

_*+ Oxford +*_

*+ 13th February – Power2010 Meeting +*
Saturday 13th February, 4pm at the East Oxford Community Centre – the
director of POWER2010 Pam Giddy will be on hand to talk about the
campaign so do go along if you are interested in getting involved.

See the website for more info on Oxford NO2ID: http://no2id-oxford.org.uk/

_*+ Portsmouth +*_

Join the Portsmouth mailing list at
http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.portsmouth/

_*+ Reading +*_*
*
Contact Reading NO2ID on reading at no2id.net or join our web group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Reading-No2ID/

_*+ Sheffield +*_

*+ 24th February – Sheffield NO2ID Meeting +*
Wednesday 24th February, 7:30pm at the Harlequin pub, 108 Nursery St,
Sheffield, S3 8GG (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=s3+8gg). Everybody is
welcome. If you would like to get involved in the campaign or want to
find out more about the issues then please come along. The meeting room
is upstairs. We usually congregate in the bar shortly before the
meeting. Please ask the bar staff if you can’t find us.

If you are interested in the work of this group, please join the
Sheffield mailing group here:
http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.sheffield

_*+ Watford +*_*
*
Please contact Colin Simmons on watford at no2id.net if you are interested
in giving a couple of hours a month to join us.

_*+ York +*_
*
*If you are interested in the work of this group please join the York
mailing group here: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.york

Uncategorized | adam | 2010-02-11 | Comments (0)

Newsletter No. 141

NO2ID Supporters’ Newsletter No. 141 – 28th January 2010

+ PROTECT MEDICAL CONFIDENTIALITY NOW +

Some of you will remember the fight to provide patients with rights over the NHS Summary Care Records back in 2006-7. Though the vast majority of GPs and the public opposed the uploading of patients’ information without explicit consent, the Department of Health pushed on regardless, uploading the details of anyone* who failed to respond to a single letter.

Now the Department is bribing health authorities across the UK to do a massive mailshot to patients. Fail to respond to a single letter and your personal details – including sensitive medical information, such as your last 6 months’ prescriptions – will be permanently uploaded to the NHS spine.

We’d like to know when and where these mailshots are going, as we suspect that the Department of Health is still trying to pull a fast one. If you receive one of the mailshots, which should contain a leaflet entitled ‘Changes to your health records’, and it DOESN’T contain a copy of the opt out form then please get in touch with us via office at no2id.net

Latest info indicates that mailshots could already be going out to parts of London and the East of England, with health authorities in the North West, North East, and Yorkshire and Humber to follow in coming weeks. It would be helpful if you could indicate the region in which you live when you contact the office.
–
*Anyone, that is, who had not already got their GP to put a ’stop code’ on their medical record using the NHS Confidentiality Campaign’s opt out letter – which you can still send, if you haven’t done so already: http://www.nhsconfidentiality.org/optoutletter

What just happened?
+ Thanks to North West volunteers +

We would like to thank all those who have volunteered to date to help with distributing our new ‘Don’t be a Guinea Pig’ leaflets across the North West. If you would like to assist with this we have plenty to give out. Just email James our North of England coordinator on north at no2id.net

+ Governments want young people as next ID Guinea Pigs +

This week it was announced that young people in London can enrol in the National Identity Scheme from 8th February. The sales pitch is that it offers a “convenient” form of proof of age. The choice before the young people of London is: you can spend £10 on a proof-of-age card from an independent charity with no other commitment; or you can pay £30 now, be
fingerprinted, and agree to account for your personal details to the Home Office for the rest of your life. Tricky decision.

+ ID cards commencement order includes internet Guinea Pigs +

The commencement order signed by the ID Minister Meg Hillier this week to foist ID cards on young people in London also expands the ID card con into cyberspace. The order states that from 8th February, any British citizens (holding a passport on or after 1st January 2009) who has signed up for the Identity Cards newsletter at ‘The Early Interest Website’ by 30th June 2010 can also apply to be enrolled as an ID card guinea pig. In November Hillier revealed that “2,445 people from the Greater Manchester area have expressed an interest in continuing to be updated about the National Identity Service via the Early Interest Website” and last week it was revealed that “over 1,300 people who live in Greater Manchester, have applied and attended an enrolment appointment for an identity card”. That’s a conversion rate of a little
over 50%. See http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2010/uksi_20100126_en_1

+ Ministerial ID card bragging +

The take up of ID cards may be slow with the general public but Home Office ministers are all carded up (voluntarily of course). A recent Freedom of Information request to the Home Office asked if ID card minister Meg Hillier was required to pay for her card and if so how much and whether she was claiming it on expenses. The response states: “I can confirm that Meg Hillier paid £30 for her Identity Card and will not be claiming for it.” Home Office minister Lord West of Spithead this week told peers: “I have one myself, and it is actually quite useful, I have to say”, whilst Home Secretary Alan Johnson offered to get his out in
the House of Commons on 14th December in response to a parliamentary question when he said: “I have one myself – in case nobody in here knows who I am – which I can show the right hon. Gentleman afterwards”. The government says that 3,500 people now have an ID card – one question is, how many of those are Labour ministers or MPs?

+ Mapeley ID Interrogation Centres too expensive +

Back in 2006 the ID enrolment plan was to create 69 interrogation centres around the country and the contact to supply offices was won by Mapeley (the property company that bought the offices of the Inland Revenue in a controversial outsourcing deal) [See Newsletter 41]. It has now emerged that the use of Mapely Accommodation has been rejected on the grounds of cost. Describing the interrogation centre deal, under ‘Key achievements’ Mapeley’s corporate brochure says only: “Cost certainty in a moving market”.

+ Birmingham council votes against ID scheme +

Earlier this month Birmingham city council reaffirmed its resistance to the ID cards scheme by passing a motion against the scheme and the database state. The motion stated: “The implementation of the NHS computer system has cost billions and resulted in the reduction of
frontline services as maternity and A&E departments are closed across the country”.
For more details see: http://petersmallbone.blogspot.com/2010/01/labours-flagship-id-cards-policy-in.html

What’s next?

** *+ Call for North West Volunteers +*
If you fancy doing something practical then we have a large supply of our new “Don’t be a Guinea Pig” leaflets, that warn of the dangers of being foolish enough to volunteer for the scheme. Ensuring as many people as possible are aware of what they are really signing up for
helps us ensure people are not conned by the marketing. If you fancy helping out then email north at no2id.net with the number you would be happy to distribute and we will send them to you. Even better, come along to the next meeting of your local group to pick some up and meet some like-minded people. Check out http://www.no2id.net/localgroups/ for a list of groups in your area.

*+ POWER2010 public vote +*
NO2ID supporters will be glad to hear that ‘Scrap ID cards and roll back the database state’ was one of the reforms short-listed for the POWER2010 public vote, which now runs until 22nd February 2010. The top 5 ideas at the end of the voting process will then become the POWER2010 Pledge – the backbone of a nationwide campaign for change at the next
election. You can cast your vote online at http://www.power2010.org.uk/votes (you will need to provide an e-mail address). You can of course vote for as many reforms as you like, but just once for each reform.

*+ Have your say – National Identity Service Public Panels +*
The UK Identity and Passport Service (UKIPS) is setting up public panels around the country to get the views of members of the public as they build the “National Identity Service”. Public panels will be made up of 11 members, and will meet for half a day up to three times a year. The aim is to “produce an Identity Rights Charter. This will set out the rights and responsibilities people, businesses and the Government have under the NIS”. To join a panel you can fill in the online form at www.ips.gov.uk/publicpanel or call 020 3356 8174.
More details at http://www.ips.gov.uk/cps/rde/xchg/ips_live/hs.xsl/1189.htm

“ID” in the news

*+ Biometric enrolment incurs £8 fee at Post Office – ZDNet 28/1/10 +*
The Post Office is charging foreign nationals £38 to apply for an identity card. The charge is made up of an £8 handling fee, including taking the applicant’s biometrics, and the standard £30 fee for new and replacement identity cards. The government plans to extend the
registration of biometrics — 10 fingerprints and a photograph — for passport applicants from 2012. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,40010716,00.htm

*+ Entire UK will be on ID database sometime in next 3 millennia – The Register 26/1/10 +*
Applications to join the ID card register are running at 50 a day, meaning the Labour government will achieve its aim of chipping the entire population of these islands in somewhere between 136 and 3,342 years. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/26/id_cards_rate/

*+ National ID cards available to London youth – Public Technology 25/1/10 +*
The government’s multi-billion pound National ID card scheme leaves its north of England base, and moves to attract the capital’s youth. The controversial National ID scheme is to be offered to London’s young adults aged 16-24 from today, according to the Home Office.
http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=22448

*+ ID cards: Should Britain stop protesting and embrace the inevitable?
- silicon.com 21/1/10 +*
ID cards have been resisted in Britain so far but not so in the rest of Europe. Lawyer Patrick van Eecke looks at the wide range of uses for electronic identity cards – from e-government to signing into chat rooms. http://www.silicon.com/management/public-sector/2010/01/21/id-cards-should-britain-stop-protesting-and-embrace-the-inevitable-39745354/

*+ Manchester ID staff suffer isolation as new dawn fades – The Register
21/1/10 +*
The people of Manchester have either lost all interest in travelling abroad and drinking, or couldn’t give a monkey’s about the government’s lame duck ID card scheme, if a commons answer is anything to go by. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/21/id_cards_q/

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter – Editor(newsletter at no2id.net) )
————————————————————————
*+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS + *

_*+ Birmingham +*_

*+ 30th January – Birmingham NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 30th January in Birmingham city centre. Call 07943 951 816 or
email birmingham at no2id.net for more details.

_*+ Cambridge +*_

*+ 3rd February – Cambridge NO2ID Pub Meeting +
*Wednesday 3rd February, 7:30pm at the Salisbury Arms, 76 Tenison Rd,
Cambridge CB1 2DW (http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/CYXNES29) for
Cambridge NO2ID’s usual monthly pub meeting. We are starting to lay
plans for a joint election hustings with Cambridge Oxfam & Amnesty
groups. If you’re interested in helping, please come to this pub meeting.

*+ 6th February – Cambridge NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 6th February in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall
(http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/T5LZATLS) from 1pm (note earlier time).
Please contact Andrew on 07710 469624 if you’d like to help.

For more details email andrew.watson at no2id.net or call 07710 469624.

_*+ Camden and Islington +*_

*+ 2nd February – Camden and Islington NO2ID Meeting (first Tuesday of
month) +*
Tuesday 2nd February, 8.00pm at the Kings Head, 59 Essex Rd, Islington.
All welcome.

_**__*+ Canterbury +*_

To stay up to date join the Canterbury NO2ID mailing list on:
http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.canterbury

*_+ Coventry +_*

_*+ Dorking +*_

*+ 2nd February – Dorking NO2ID Monthly Meeting (first Tuesday of month) +*
Tuesday 2nd February, at 7.30pm – our monthly get-together at South
Street Wine Bar, 43 South Street, Dorking. Come and help plan our
special Election Question Time on Civil Liberties.

If you would like to help or get involved, email Geoff Cox at
dorking at no2id.net or come along to our monthly get-togethers.

_*+ Dover +*_*

*To stay up to date with Dover NO2ID join our mailing list on:
http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.dover

*New Co-ordinator for Hull NO2ID*
We are pleased to welcome Carla Ramsay on board as the new Hull
coordinator. Carla can be reached at hull at no2id.net

*+ 30th January – Hull NO2ID Meeting and Street Stall +*
Saturday 30th January, 12 noon at The Mission pub in the city centre
(11-13 Posterngate, HU1 2JB – very close to Princes Quay shopping centre
- http://www.viewhull.co.uk/pubsandbars/the-mission-info-61165.html).
Following the meeting the group will head out to Victoria Square by City
Hall with a view to starting a street stall between 1.00 and 1.30 pm for
a couple of hours. All welcome!

If you are interested in the work of this group, or planning on
attending the meeting, please join the Hull mailing group here:
http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.hull

_**__*+ Ipswich +*_*
*
If you are interested in the work of the Ipswich group, please join
their mailing list on: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.ipswich

_*+ Lancaster +*_

If you are interested in the work of this group, or planning on
attending the meeting, please join the Lancaster mailing group at
http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.lancaster

_*+ Leeds +*_

*+ 31st January – Leeds NO2ID Brainstorming Meeting +*
Sunday 31st January, 2pm in Dr Okel’s/Mr Foleys (Headrow, opposite Leeds
city library) Leeds NO2ID will be holding a brainstorming meeting for
further publicity ideas.

_*+ Liverpool +*_

If you are interested in the work of this group, or planning on
attending the meeting, please join the Liverpool mailing group at
http://no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.liverpool

_*+ Manchester +*_
_*
*_*+ 10th February – Manchester NO2ID Meeting +*
Wednesday 10th February, 7pm at Lass O’Gowrie, Manchester. At our
monthly meetings we discuss the state of the NO2ID campaign, what we’ve
been up to recently and where we’re going in future. Everyone is
welcome, newcomer or not, curious or committed. See minutes of our
previous meetings on our website. We will be in the bar before hand,
enjoying the food (and maybe drink) of Manchester’s best pub (Food &
Drink Festival ‘09) so look out for us if you arrive early. If you
arrive after the start, just ask the bar staff to direct you upstairs.

*+ 13th February – Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 13th February, from 2pm in St Ann’s Square, Manchester (down
near the big Marks and Spencer). Manchester NO2ID will be running a
public information stall to raise awareness among the public and engage
people in discussion about the National Identity Register. We’ll be
collecting signatures for the NO2ID petition to keep people in touch
with the campaign. Feel free to join us to lend a hand or just chat. You
don’t need any experience or equipment, just a bit of time to spare and
a friendly smile!

_*+ Newcastle +*_

*+ 9th February – Newcastle NO2ID Meeting +*
Tuesday 9th February, 7:30pm at the Jazz Cafe on Pink Lane (opposite
Central Station). Hope all can attend to meet our guest, James
Elsdon-Baker, Northern Coordinator. Also on agenda election of officers.

**_*+ Norwich +*_
*
**+ 13th February – Norwich NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 13th February, 1-3pm at The Haymarket, Gentleman’s Walk.
Support for Gordon Brown, New Labour and ID cards is crumbling – come
along to make sure that we decimate them all for good.

*+ 15th February – Norwich NO2ID Meeting +*
Tuesday 15th February, 7:30-9pm, Norwich NO2ID will be meeting at The
Workshop Cafe (opposite The Black Horse), 53 Earlham Road, NR2 3AD. Find
out how you can stick it to Charles Clarke and Co in the upcoming election.

If you are interested in the work of the Norwich group, please join
their mailing list on: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.norwich

_*+ Oxford +*_

*+ 4th February – Oxford NO2ID Meeting +*
Thursday 4th February, 8pm at The Mitre, High Street, Oxford. We’ll talk
about what events we’ll be holding in the run up to the general
election. We will also talk about who is going to chair the group in
future – Chris Rimmer is going to be out of the country for almost 3
months in the summer, so whatever happens in the election someone will
need to step into his shoes for at
least some of this year.

*+ 6th February – Oxford NO2ID Street Stall +*
Saturday 6th February, 11am at St Michael’s Tower, Cornmarket, Oxford.
Our regular stall in Cornmarket Street for a couple of hours or so. Hope
to see you there.

See the website for more info: http://no2id-oxford.org.uk/

_*+ Portsmouth +*_

Join the Portsmouth mailing list at
http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.portsmouth/

_*+ Reading +*_*
*
Contact Reading NO2ID on reading at no2id.net or join our web group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Reading-No2ID/*
*
_*+ Southampton +*_

*+ 3rd February – Southampton NO2ID +*
Wednesday 3rd February, 8pm at the South Western Arms next to St Denys
Railway Station. Please note the new venue which is on the other side of
the railway, across the pedestrian bridge from the Dolphin which sadly
closed down last month. We are delighted to welcome the National NO2ID
Groups Co-ordinator Matty Mitford to the meeting. She will be coming
down from London specially to be with us, to offer advice on planning
for the General Election in the spring and to bring us up to date on
what NO2ID are doing at the national level. I hope you will be able to
join us for what promises to be an interesting meeting and an excellent
opportunity to become more involved with the campaign in the run up to
the election.

_*+ Watford +*_*
*
Please contact Colin Simmons on watford at no2id.net if you are interested
in giving a couple of hours a month to join us.

_*+ York +*_
*
New **Co-ordinator for** York NO2ID*
Ross Bennett has now taken on the role of York coordinator – he can be
reached on york at no2id.net / 07870 529 299.

If you are interested in the work of this group please join the York
mailing group here: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.york

Uncategorized | adam | 2010-01-28 | Comments (0)

Newsletter No.140

+ BIOMETRICS NOT QUITE ON THE HIGH STREET YET +

The plan for a National Identity Scheme, whether disguised as “upgrades to passports” or not, depends on collecting and checking fingerprints and face-scans from everyone who applies. There are all sorts of technical difficulties with security, infrastructure and the inevitable false matches, but even the logistics seems to be a struggle for the Home Office.

A trial in 17 Post Offices (details here: http://forum.no2id.net/viewtopic.php?t=30291) is now testing fingerprinting and other equipment as part of another front operation, the ‘ID cards for foreign nationals’ from the UK Border Agency. A Freedom of Information request http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/post_office_trial_of_internation#incoming-64975)
has just revealed some interesting information about the government’s struggle to ramp up ‘biometric enrolment’ of the general population. The plan is to enrol you on the scheme and take your fingerprints, facial photo and signature in Post Offices across the UK, if you apply for a passport from the end of 2011.

The UK Border Agency’s ‘Commercial Strategy On Future Biometric Enrollment Accommodation and Services’ makes it quite clear the Home Office doesn’t have the capacity to handle mass registration: “We have considered using IPS (which is part of the Home Office anyway) to provide these services… but they provide scant geographical coverage, and have limited space for processing the additional footfall of enrolment applications.” So much for the value of the interrogation centre network, expensively set up in the past few years, and now being quietly wound down again.

The official documents have been mysteriously — and inconsistently — blotted out in places. Most references to costs are excised; the planned timetables are shown, but what logically should be references to how much has been done, were, are all black. Confident? In different versions of the same documents the same bits are not redacted. Competent?

Will it actually work, if it is available on time? They don’t seem to think so. One Post Office presentation refers bizarrely to people whom the system can’t even record: “The system can allow up to three attempts, before offering to accept and forward the last photograph if the Customer agrees, on the basis that not all people are ICAO [International Civil Aviation Organisation] conformant.”

As David Blunkett put it in another context, “impossible, not nearly impossible, impossible”.
Read more »

Uncategorized | admin | 2010-01-14 | Comments (0)

Newsletter No.139

NO2ID Supporters’ Newsletter No. 139 – 31st December 2009

+ NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: JOIN NO2ID — OR ENCOURAGE SOMEONE ELSE TO JOIN +
The database state continues to grow. The ID cards scheme is being rolled out in Manchester and across the North West from January with those aged 16-24 in London to be targeted in early 2010. Government initiatives seem to be launched every other month or so, none of them well thought-out, all of them a danger to privacy and liberty.

To keep up with all this and keep you informed takes time. To do something about it – whether that is campaigning, or lobbying politicians and journalists, printing information leaflets and adverts, or organising public events – inevitably also takes money. Which means we need members. Almost all our funding now comes from membership fees and donations from individual supporters – we are hardly likely to get a government grant and we stay independent of any political patronage of any kind.

If you value the information we send you and the work we are doing then please join. If you are already a member then why not make it a new year’s resolution to get one other person to join NO2ID.

Thank you to all of our members – you are the reason we are able to do our work at all.

————————————————————————
What just happened?

*+ Democracy Club. What are *your* candidates doing this election? +

*A new website has been set up to create an independent network of volunteers who want to help transparency groups like mySociety and The Straight Choice to hold election candidates and representatives to account. emocracy Club is aiming to arm voters this election with as much information as possible about the views of their candidates. It needs grass-roots information gatherers: you! It will provide an opportunity to ask candidates not only about Identity Cards and the Database State, but also *other* issues too, including those specific to your areas. At our AGM, many attendees were interested in what the Election means to us. By signing up to this project, you can help both NO2ID and Democracy Club at the same time. Visit http://www.democracyclub.org.uk to learn more

*+ New Voter Registration Law +

*The Political Parties and Elections Act became law in July. The act includes a process of introducing individual electoral registration in Great Britain from 1st July 2010. The Electoral Commission guide states:

“From 2011 onwards, the Commission will report annually to Parliament on the progress of the voluntary collection of personal identifiers – National Insurance number, signature and date of birth – from electors, to make sure that the conditions are appropriate before any move to compulsory provision of identifiers.”

The new law will create another readily-searched and cross-referenced official list that you must be on.
See http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/78919/PPE-Act—A-summary-guide-to-what-is-changing.FIN.pdf

————————————————————————

What’s next?

*+ North West : Stop the ID Card Con volunteers required +*
Following the news that ID cards will be rolled-out across the North West region in January we are having a call out for volunteers to help oppose the scheme across the region. This is a crucial period for the campaign and by getting involved you can help play your part in history by ensuring this scheme is defeated. We are particularly seeking coordinators for

Liverpool
Birkenhead
Blackburn
Burnley
Stoke-on-Trent,
Carlisle
St.Helens
Warrington

Volunteering for the campaign makes a real difference, and James our North of England coordinator promises to find something for you to do, no matter how little time you have, or what you feel confident with. If you would like a friendly chat about what you might be willing to do please email James on north@no2id.net or give him a call on 07817605162.

*+ Reckless misuse of personal data consultation +*
The Ministry of Justice has launched a consultation ‘Knowing or reckless misuse of personal data – introducing custodial sentences’ described as a consultation on “exercising the power to provide for custodial sanctions for those found guilty of knowingly or recklessly obtaining, disclosing, selling or procuring the disclosure of personal data without the consent of the data controller”. The consultation closes on 7th January 2010. Full details and how to respond at http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/misuse-personal-data.htm

*+ POWER2010 campaign wants your ideas +*

NO2ID supporters are invited to contribute ideas for the POWER2010 campaign, which will set out a reforming agenda at the next general election. Naturally NO2ID would like ideas about curtailing the database state to feature, but you are certainly not limited to that. You can contribute ANY ideas for governmental reform on the campaign’s website at: (www.power2010.org.uk). The ideas with most support will become the POWER2010 Pledge, which the campaign intends to invite every candidate standing at the next general election to make the pledge into their own public commitment, so that the new parliament will be fully aware of what the public thinks of those building-blocks of government which are fundamental but seldom covered by manifestos.

*+ Have your say – National Identity Service Public Panels +*
The UK Identity and Passport Service (UKIPS) is setting up public panels around the country to get the views of members of the public as they build the “National Identity Service”. Public panels will be made up of 11 members, and will meet for half a day up to three times a year. The aim is to “produce an Identity Rights Charter. This will set out the rights and responsibilities people, businesses and the Government have under the NIS”. To join a panel you can fill in the online form at www.ips.gov.uk/publicpanel or call 020 3356 8174. More details at http://www.ips.gov.uk/cps/rde/xchg/ips_live/hs.xsl/1189.htm

————————————————————————
“ID” in the news

*+ Telecom firms’ fury at plan for ‘Stasi’ checks on every phone call and email – Daily Mail 27/12/09 +*
Telecoms firms have accused the Government of acting like the East German Stasi over plans to force them to store the details of every phone call for at least a year. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1238618/Telecom-firms-criticise-plan-Stasi-like-checks-phone-email.html#ixzz0avjGkURn

*+ Bars losing millions in chaos on ID cards – Daily Mail 26/12/09 +*
Britain’s pubs and clubs are in trouble. The smoking ban, recession and the trend towards home entertainment have all taken their toll. But many venues are turning away millions of pounds worth of potential business
as confusion over an identity scheme causes chaos. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1238547/Bars-losing-millions-chaos-ID-cards.html

*+ Man’s Christmas break ruined after P&O Ferries blocked his new ID card – Daily Mirror 23/12/09 +*
A couple’s Christmas break was ruined after the husband was told he could not use his ID card to catch a ferry. Norman Eastwood, 64, had been assured the new Government document was valid for travel within Europe. But when he arrived at Hull for a trip to Rotterdam, P&O told him they had no knowledge of the cards, only available in the North West. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/12/23/p-o-blocks-new-id-card-115875-21917667/

*+ Young Londoners next in line for ID cards – Kable 23/12/09 +*
The Home Office has confirmed that it will make identity cards available to 16- to 24-year-olds in the capital early next year. The offices of the Identity and Passport Service near London’s Victoria Station will be open for people in the specified age range to register for a voluntary identity card. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39950328,00.htm

*+ e-borders could be illegal under EU law, say MPs – computing 18/12/09 +*
The UK’s e-borders programme to gather information electronically on all travellers entering or leaving the UK will be illegal on intra-EU routes under the EU treaty, say MPs. And proposals to include new routes in the
programme must be put on hold until concerns over legality and data protection issues are resolved, the home affairs committee said in a report today. http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2255256/borders-illegal-under-eu-law

*+ Home Office minister Meg Hillier forgets ID Card – on visit to promote ID cards – Liverpool Echo 15/12/09 +*
A government minister came to Liverpool to promote the national ID card scheme – but left hers at home. Home Office minister Meg Hillier was in town to advertise the roll out of the controversial Government project
across the North West in the new year. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/12/15/home-office-minister-meg-hillier-forgets-id-card-on-visit-to-promote-id-cards-100252-25391344/

*+ DVLA data powers likely to be abused by foreign officials – The Register 14/12/09 +*
Personal data belonging to nearly 40 million UK motorists is likely to be abused by foreign officials under new automatic access powers, according to a restricted report. Drivers’ details such as name, address, motoring convictions and some medical information will be available to more than two dozen European countries around the clock under the Prüm Convention. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/14/dvla_prum/print.html

*+ Liverpool declares itself an ID-free zone – The Register 11/12/09 +*
Liverpool City Council passed a motion last night vowing not to co-operate with Home Office plans to extend its ID card trial to the city early next year. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/11/liverpool_next_trial/print.html

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter – Editor(newsletter@no2id.net) )
————————————————————————
*+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS + *

To see if there’s a group in your area check our list at http://www.no2id.net/localgroups/
Or, if you’re interested in starting a group yourself, please contact Matty on local.groups@no2id.net to discuss what’s involved and what we have in place to support coordinators and their groups.

*+ Cambridge +*
6th January – Cambridge NO2ID Pub Meeting
Wednesday 6th January, 7:30pm at the Salisbury Arms, 76 Tenison Rd, Cambridge CB1 2DW (http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/CYXNES29). Come along and help us plan our activities for this election year.

16th January – Cambridge NO2ID Street Stall
Saturday 16th January, in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall (http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/T5LZATLS) from 1pm (note earlier time). Please contact Andrew on 07710 469624 if you’d like to help.

*+ Canterbury +*
To stay up to date join the Canterbury NO2ID mailing list on: http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.canterbury

*+ Dorking +*
5th January – Dorking NO2ID Monthly Meeting (first Tuesday of month)
Tuesday 5th January, at 7.30pm – our monthly get-together at South Street Wine Bar, 43 South Street, Dorking. Come and help us plan a couple of events leading up to the general election, including an Election Question Time on Civil Liberties. For more information contact Geoff Cox at dorking@no2id.net

*+ Dover +*
To stay up to date with Dover NO2ID join our mailing list on: http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.dover

*+ Edinburgh +*
Saturdays 1pm – 3pm – NO2ID Edinburgh Street Stall
Every week, weather permitting, you will find our campaigning stall at the east end of Princes Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel. Do drop by for a chat. New volunteers – please contact John (edinburgh@no2id.net), and for more group information see http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/

*+ Epsom +*
If anyone wants to get involved in the Epsom area, please email or phone NO2ID South East Regional Coordinator Geoff Cox on south.east@no2id.net or call 01306 631377.

*+ Exeter +*
If you would like to join the Exeter group, please email exeter@no2id.net and say hello! Do also join the Exeter group mailing list at http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.exeter

*+ Glasgow +*
5th January – Glasgow NO2ID Monthly Meeting
Tuesday 5th January at 8pm in Mono (or across the road in Lauries Bar or the 13th Note if there are events on). All welcome. http://www.no2id-scotland.net/glasgow/meeting.html

*+ Hull and East Riding +*
3rd December – Hull and East Riding NO2ID Meeting
Thursday 3rd December, 7:30pm at Ye Olde White Hart pub in Hull. For more information contact Tim Alderslade on 0785 5337616.

*+ Ipswich +*
If you are interested in the work of the Ipswich group, please join their mailing list on: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.ipswich

*+ Lancaster +*
Late January, date TBC – Lancaster NO2ID Meeting and Street Stall
Lancaster NO2ID is planning to hold a meeting and street stall in late January. Please email Lancaster@no2id.net or north@no2id.net if you would like to lend a hand.
Subscribe to the Lancaster NO2ID e-mail list at http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.lancaster

*+ Liverpool +*
16th January – Liverpool NO2ID Meeting and Street Stall
Saturday 16th January at 11:30 am in the Tuebrook Hope Centre (Rear St John’s Church, 1B Snaefell Avenue, Liverpool, L13 7HA). Come along and have a coffee & chat about the scheme, and to discuss practical things
you can do to help oppose it. After the informal meeting we are planning to head out to Norris Green in an attempt to reach out to ordinary people who will be negatively affected by the scheme. Further details – James Elsdon-Baker (North@no2id.net). If you are interested in the work of this group, or planning on attending the meeting, please join the Liverpool mailing group here: http://no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.liverpool

*+ Manchester +*
9th January – Manchester NO2ID Street Stall
Saturday 9th January, 2pm-4pm, St. Ann’s Square in Manchester City Centre (down near the big Marks and Spencer). Manchester NO2ID will be running a public information stall to raise awareness amongst the public
and engage people in discussion about the National Identity Register. We’ll meet in the square itself at 2pm to set up shop; feel free to join us to lend a hand or just chat. This’ll be our first stall of 2010 – if you oppose ID cards, why not make it a New Year’s resolution to turn up to a NO2ID stall and help spread the word?

Web: http://manchester.no2id.net/content/street-stall-january-2010
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=210667546015

13th January – Manchester NO2ID Monthly Meeting
Wednesday 13th January, 7-9pm, venue TBC. At our monthly meetings we discuss the state of the NO2ID campaign, what we’ve been up to recently and where we’re going in future. Everyone is welcome, newcomer or not,
curious or committed.

Web: http://manchester.no2id.net/content/monthly-meeting-january-2010
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=223521458608

*+ Norwich +*
9th January – Norwich NO2ID Street Stall
Saturday 9th January, 1-3pm at The Haymarket, Gentleman’s Walk. Meet the public and spread the word!

12th January – Norwich NO2ID Meeting
Tuesday 12th January, 7:30-9pm, Norwich NO2ID will be meeting at The Workshop Cafe (opposite The Black Horse), 53 Earlham Road, NR2 3AD. Come along to air your views and get involved in positive action to stop ID
cards and the database state, stepping up the pressure as we near a general election.

If you are interested in the work of the Norwich group, please join their mailing list on: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.norwich

*+ Oxford +*
7th January – Oxford NO2ID Monthly Meeting
Thursday 7th January, 8pm at The Mitre, High Street, Oxford. Our regular monthly meeting for a chat and to plan further events. See the website for more: http://no2id-oxford.org.uk/

*+ Portsmouth +*
Join the Portsmouth mailing list at http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.portsmouth/

*+ Reading +*
Contact Reading NO2ID on reading@no2id.net or join our web group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Reading-No2ID

*+ Southampton +*
6th January – Southampton NO2ID Monthly Meeting
Wednesday 6th January, 8:00pm at the Dolphin pub next to St Denys Station. Please come along for our first meeting of 2010, and help to plan the local campaign for the run up to the General Election. Or, if you can’t make it but need leaflets or other resources, email southampton@no2id.net

*+ Watford +*
Please contact Colin Simmons on watford@no2id.net if you are interested in giving a couple of hours a month to join us.

*+ York +*
9th January – York NO2ID Meeting and Street Stall
Saturday 9th January from 12:30pm at the Golden Fleece, 16 Pavement, York YO1 9UP. This meeting will be to plan events for the busy new year ahead of us. Afterwards we will be heading out into the city centre to hold a street stall for a couple of hours.

Uncategorized | admin | 2009-12-31 | Comments (0)